The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Thank you Burdette. Eight Operas! I doubt there are more than eight in the West of England!
I took my Opera to Paul Morris yesterday for a health check and he found nothing wrong with it, apart from the reproducer which I already knew about and which he is going to service. The worst case scenario is that a new diamond stylus may be needed. Paul may have a spare which he would be happy to fit, but if not one will have to be sourced.

By way of a progress report, all the reproducer needed was a thorough clean and new gaskets.
When Paul opened it up with great difficulty, this is what he found :

My Opera has a little wobble, which has always bothered me. My flywheel wire is fine. What is the little spring you’re talking about? If I could fix this I would be so happy.

I had the same sound warble problem with my Opera. I replace the fly wheel spring but it made no difference. So for years I just put up with it. A couple of months ago I decided to remove the gear cover and have a closer look. I even used a flashlight to get a better look. What I discovered was that the fly wheel was just touching ever so lightly the support casting on the left as it rotated. It was almost not visible until I used the flashlight. It only touched at one small spot on each rotation. I put a little oil on that outside rim of the fly wheel where it was rubbing and now the machine playing perfectly with no sound wobble

I’ll check this, it’s maddening because they’re such amazing machines. I’ve been trying to fix this for years! I wonder what the small spring mister opera was talking about was?

The small spring is that straight wire crossing through the flywheel side to side. Its elasticity in bending is what does the spring function.
I suppose, II'm not an expert in cylinder machines. But this interesting arrangement has been explained in the forum, and I'm curious enough to have studied it.. ..
As understood from the posts, this wire acts as a floating engagement between the mandrel shaft and the flywheel.